Full Title: The Myth of the Universal User: Pursuing a Cultural Variable in ICT Design for Conflict Management through Quantitative Analysis: Implications from a Ugandan Case Study This study took a novel experimental approach from the field of cognitive linguistics to quantitatively describe the impact of culture on the use […]
2014 • cognition • communication • conflict resolution • culture • ICTs • linguistics • participatory • technology • UgandaExploring Social Media as Channels for Sustaining African Culture
Social media are becoming significant channels for information dissemination and communication around the world today. Internet and social media users run into hundred thousands daily; with young people constituting a large percentage. With the internet technology, social media, which consists of YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, blogs, MySpace, have made the communication […]
2015 • Africa • communication • culture • internet • social media • western valuesFamily Communication Technology Design in Rural and Low Income Parts of Kenya
This dissertation focuses on understanding how families communicate over distance when using technology in Kenya, and how we should think about designing technology to support family communication over distance between rural and urban settings of the country. It is divided in two parts with first part exploring family communication practices […]
2015 • communication • digital divide • families • Kenya • rural • TumaPicha • urbanTowards appropriate user interface design preserving rural African communication practices
This mini-thesis examines different socio-cultural norms and communication behaviours of indigenous communities. In spite of existing Information Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructural challenges, the software solutions that have been designed for rural communities have been a major concern. In this thesis, qualitative methodologies were used with deliberate sampling of two village […]
2013 • communication • gesture • ICTs • indigenous / traditional knowledge • indigenous communities • knowledge management • knowledge systems • orality • user interfaceSocial Media in Remote First Nation Communities
Community resilience in First Nations includes ties to people both inside and outside the community, intergenerational communication, the sharing of stories, and family and community connectedness. This study, based on a survey of Internet users in the Sioux Lookout region of Northwestern Ontario, explores the link between social networking sites […]
2014 • communication • culture | preservation • First Nations • indigenous communities • Internet use • social networkingInformation to Iteration: Using information and communication technologies [ICT] in design for remote regions
Remote design comes with significant challenges. A major barrier to designing in remote regions is the lack of communication between designers and users. As a result, the lack of information flow leads to assumptions about the community’s needs- an inherent weakness in the design process. This study examines the role […]
2012 • challenges • communication • community • design • mobile • remote regionsIndigenous Knowledge Communication in the 21st Century
Indigenous knowledge — the knowledge developed by local people and passed down over generations — is a major, untapped resource for development. In the 21st century indigenous information is transmitted mainly through indigenous communication channels: indigenous organizations, folk media, traditional education, and so forth. Emerging information and communication technology (ICT) […]
2014 • communication • development • ICTs • indigenous / traditional knowledge • knowledge sharing / exchangeInterview with Stefan Bock on HCI initiatives at BOSCO Uganda
Can you give a little background to the BOSCO Uganda Project and your role in the project? How did you become interested in working in the HCI field.BOSCO Uganda (Battery Operated Systems for Community Outreach) is a rural communications project based in Gulu, Northern Uganda. It was launched in 2007 […]
2011 • BOSCO • communication • human computer interaction • interview • rural • UgandaCommunication for Social Change Anthology: Historical and Contemporary Readings
An engine for social change that would improve all our lives has been popping up in different forms for a long time. But now, The Communication for Social Change Anthology looks at an essential ingredient that has usually been left out of the fuel for such an engine. And that […]
2006 • communication • empower • research • social changeQuestioning the Obvious? Ethical and Cultural Dimensions of CMC and ICTs
As late as 1998, U.S. citizens constituted the significant majority of Internet users (84%: GVU 1998). Given this demographic dominance, it is not surprising that U.S.-specific visions also dominated both popular discourse and English-language scholarship regarding computer-mediated communication (CMC). Such dominance, of course, goes hand-in-hand with ethnocentrism – and so […]
2004 • communication • computer-mediated communication • ICTs • indigenous communities • western valuesCommunication for Empowerment in Lao PDR: An assessment of communication and media needs among ethnic peoples
Indigenous and ethnic peoples are highly marginalized and vulnerable. Largely excluded from mainstream development processes in many countries, their participation in decision-making and governance is limited. Many ethnic communities have neither the voice nor the means to influence and shape policies and outcomes affecting their lives. On 13 September 2007, the […]
2010 • communication • empower • indigenous communities • Lao PDR • UNDPGlobal Knowledge Partnership Foundation
What is Global Knowledge Partnership Foundation (GKPF)? Every organization involved in development needs to network and exchange knowledge. GKPF has the role as the knowledge broker, networking, communication and dissemination, logistics partner for all organizations, companies and governments involved in development. GKPFs mission is it to create and maintain the […]
capacity building • communication • ICTs • innovation • knowledge sharing / exchangeRethinking the Indigenous Communications Program: developed by Broadband for the Bush Alliance
From the Executive Summary… Indigenous Communications Over the years, governments have put in place a range of initiatives aimed at improving communications in remote Indigenous communities. However, high levels of digital inequality still exist in many communities around Australia. Indigenous Remote Media Association (IRCA) highlights this point, saying ‘most remote […]
Australia • broadband • communication • digital divide • ICTs • indigenous communities • IRCA • ruralØrecomm Centre for Communication and Glocal Change
Ørecomm is a bi-national research group that originated at Malmö University (MAH) and Roskilde University (RUC) for research in the field of Communication for Development. Ørecomm focuses on the relations between media, communication and social change processes at both global and local levels. The term glocal change refers to interconnectedness […]
communication • development communication • globalization • research • social changeWait… What? Bridging Community Development & Technology (Linda Raftree’s blog)
NOTE: I have followed Linda’s tweets and read her blog since 2008, and met her very briefly during a meet up after the UN Week Digital Media Lounge in NYC in 2010. She’s got great energy and enthusiasm and is on my list of favorite ICT4D peeps. Cheers, Mark O. […]
Africa • communication • development • development communication • gender • ICT4D • ICTs • social media • violence prevention • youthMobileActive.org
MobileActive.org is a community of people and organizations using mobile phones for social impact. We are committed to increasing the effectiveness of NGOs around the world who recognize that the 3.5 billion mobile phones provide unprecedented opportunities for organizing, communications, and service and information delivery. We work together to create […]
communication • ICT4D • mobile • MobileActive • social changeInternational Telecommunication Union (ITU) blog
ITU (International Telecommunication Union) is the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies – ICTs. Their blog has several categories: Assistive Technology for Disabled Broadband Children Communications Connected Schools Curriculum Development Emergency Telecommunications Gender ICT in Education ICT Infrastructure ICTs for Health low cost laptops Partnerships PwDs Remote/Underserved […]
communication • education • gender • ICTs • rural • United Nations • youthFrontlineSMS
FrontlineSMS is free open source software that turns a laptop and a mobile phone into a central communications hub. Once installed, the program enables users to send and receive text messages with large groups of people through mobile phones. What you communicate is up to you, making FrontlineSMS useful in […]
communication • mobile • open access • texting